UEC Preparation Workheet (1)

Lesson 1/10 UEC (Junior) Preparation

Name:______________                                                                  Date:________

（A）Comprehension

The Dreamers and the Doers (144) Earth is the cradle of the mind, but one cannot live in the cradle forever. K.E. Tsiolkovsky Very little that is worthwhile is ever achieved without dreams. But to be fruitful, dreams must be controlled by reason and founded on reality. Though men have speculated about space travel for more than 2000 years, it was not until the beginning of the 17th century that those speculations had any scientific basis. In 1609 Galileo Galilei turned the newly invented telescope upon the heavens, and became the first of all men to see (however dimly through the chromatic haze of his crude lenses) that there were worlds beyond the earth. He saw the sharp-edged shadows of great mountains arranged across the lonely lunar plains. He glimpsed, but could not understand, the enigma of Saturn's rings. He saw Venus as a tiny, dazzling crescent, waxing and waning like a distant moon. Above all, he discovered four sparks of light orbiting the planet Jupiter, and so destroyed forever the belief that all the heavenly bodies revolved around the earth. Indeed, if Jupiter possessed four satellites while the earth had but one, perhaps man was not as important in the celestial scheme as he had fondly imagined. Within a century, the closed and tidy mediaeval cosmos, which contained only Heaven, Earth and Hell like a three-storey building, had vanished into oblivion. We find perhaps its last traces in Paradise Lost (1667), and even there it is obvious that Milton is well aware of the new astronomy and the vast scale of the real universe. Only a single lifetime earlier, Shakespeare's "Doubt thou that the stars are fire,/ Doubt that the Sun doth move" had continued to pay tribute to the idea of a fixed central earth and a revolving heaven. Between these two masters of the English language lies the Great Divide which we call the Copernican Revolution. For it was the Polish astronomer Nicholas Copernicus who in the 15th century paved the way for the modern picture of the universe by publishing a theory of the solar system in which the sun is the central body and the earth is merely one of the planets revolving around it. Two other scientists established this theory beyond dispute. First in the 17th century Johannes Kepler, after years of patient calculation and endless detours down mathematical blind alleys, discovered the laws that govern the movements of the planets -- and which today control the movements of those artificial planets, our space probes. The simplest and most surprising of Kepler's three laws was the first: planets do not -- as everyone, including Copernicus, had supposed -- travel around the sun in perfect circles. They follow that considerably more complex curve, the ellipse. Then in the next generation came the great Newton, banishing the last traces of metaphysics from the heavens, and turning the solar system into one vast machine whose every movement is explained by a single all-embracing law -- the Law of Universal Gravitation. The celestial matter of the heavenly bodies and the gross matter of this earth obey the same rules: no longer could any distinction be drawn between them. And so a strange paradox occurred: as the new telescopes multiplied the scale of the universe beyond all the dreams of earlier ages, the new knowledge made this vastly expanded universe understandable and even familiar. Astronomy ceased to belong to the theologians and became a sort of extension of geography.
	1.	From the passage we can say that the writer
		(A)	approves of all dreams.
		(B)	disapproves of all dreams.
		(C)	approves of dreams based on reason and reality.
		(D)	approves only of reason and reality.
	2.	According to the passage, which of these statements is true ?
		(A)	Scientific speculation about space began only 2000 years ago.
		(B)	Scientific speculation about space began over 2000 years ago.
		(C)	Scientific speculation about space began in the 17th century.
		(D)	Scientific speculation about space began only recently.
	3.	Galileo Galieli's greatest discovery was
		(A)	the lonely lunar plains.
		(B)	Saturn's rings.
		(C)	the planet Jupiter.
		(D)	that the heavenly bodies do not all revolve around the earth.
	4.	"the celestial scheme" refers to
		(A)	the system of ideas about Heaven.
		(B)	God's plan for man in the universe.
		(C)	Heaven.
		(D)	the systematic arrangement of the heavenly bodies.
	5.	In the Middle Ages people believed that the universe
		(A)	consisted of Heaven, Earth and Hell, arranged in that descending order.
		(B)	was limitless.
		(C)	was closed and tidy.
		(D)	had vanished into oblivion.
	6.	From the quotation in the second paragraph we can deduce that Shakespeare.
		(A)	doubted that the stars were fire.
		(B)	doubted that the sun moved.
		(C)	thought that the heavens were fixed.
		(D)	believed that Earth was the centre of the universe.
	7.	Which of these statements is false ?
		(A)	The Copernican Revolution was named after Nicholas Copernicus.
		(B)	The Copernican Revolution was firmly established in the 17th century.
		(C)	The Copernican Revolution placed the sun as the centre of the solar system.
		(D)	The Copernican Revolution was concluded during Shakespeare's lifetime.
	8.	Johannes Kepler discovered that planets
		(A)	control the movements of our space probes.
		(B)	move around the sun in an ellipse.
		(C)	move around the sun in a perfect circle.
		(D)	do not move around the sun.
	9.	Newton established that
		(A)	the Law of Universal Gravitation affects heavenly matter and earthly matter in the same way.
		(B)	metaphysics has a place in astronomy.
		(C)	the solar system is a big machine.
		(D)	there are no differences between heavenly bodies and the earth.
	10.	We may infer from the passage that astronomy was once
		(A)	a paradox.
		(B)	governed by religious beliefs.
		(C)	geography on a bigger scale.
		(D)	beyond the dreams of man.

 (B) Forms and Funtions (31/30)

1.				Son : Well, it's finished at last. My model air plane. What do you think ? Task : to approve
				(A)		What did you say it was ?
				(B)		It looks like a motorboat.
				(C)		Most realistic looking.
				(D)		You mean, you took all week to do that ?
2.				Raymond : Do you like Horror films ? Alan : Yes. They're my favorite kind of films. Task : to suggest
				(A)		I thought you only liked detective films
				(B)		Why don't we go and see "Dracula" at the Odeon ?
				(C)		Mine too. Don't you think detective films are boring.
				(D)		They are ? Well, you haven't seen "Dracula" at the Odeon, have you ?
3.				Helen : Oh ! I'm so sorry ! I've spilt my drink on your shirt ! Task : to forgive
				(A)		Why don't you look where you're going ?
				(B)		You did that on purpose, didn't you ?
				(C)		No problem. It'll come out in the washing.
				(D)		Why apologize ? Wasn't it done intentionally ?
4.				Boy : Like to go to the pictures with me ? Task : to accept
				(A)		Why not ? I've nothing on at the moment.
				(B)		With you ? Never again.
				(C)		I'd have loved to but I've so much homework to do.
				(D)		Thanks. I don't really enjoy film-shows.
5.				Jason : I'm so sorry, I missed the bus. Task : to accuse
				(A)		Why do you have to lie ?
				(B)		Why do you feel you need to apologize ?
				(C)		Why don't you get up earlier next time ?
				(D)		Why do you always miss the bus ?
6.		Girl : What do you think of this dress ? Task : to disapprove
		(A)			Not bad at all.
		(B)			It seems to fit alright.
		(C)			Another new dress ?
		(D)			Don't you think it's a little too gaudy ?
7.		Girl My father will murder me ! His most expensive camera ! Look at it now ! What shall I do ? Task : to console
		(A)			You've no other choice. Confess !
		(B)			He'll understand. Accidents do happen, you know.
		(C)			Well, you're in deep trouble.
		(D)			Goodness ! I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.
8.		Carl : You stole my watch, didn't you ? Task : to deny
		(A)			What ? Me ?
		(B)			Well, let me explain !
		(C)			No harm in that, is there ?
		(D)			Not actually. I only borrowed it.
9.		Boy : Would you like to go for a walk with me ? Task : to decline
		(A)			Why not ?
		(B)			Well, I can't see any harm in that.
		(C)			Would I ? Would I not !
		(D)			I would except that I'm just too tired.
10.		Daughter : I think I'll go to China for a holiday with Daisy. Task : to order
		(A)			Will Daisy's parents approve ?
		(B)			You'll do nothing of that sort.
		(C)			Who's Daisy ?
		(D)			Don't you think that's rather dangerous ?
11.		Son : I failed, Father. I don't understand how. Task : to condemn
		(A)			Well, never mind. Try again next year.
		(B)			Well, I do ! You lazy, good-for-nothing idiot.
		(C)			Perhaps there has been a mistake.
		(D)			You don't really care whether you pass or fail, do you ?

(C) Closest in Meaning (10/11/12)

Fanny	Stop walking up and down, Joey.
Joey	I can't. I have butterflies in my stomach.
Fanny	Come on. It won't be that difficult. After all, you are the cream of the crop where English is concerned.
Joey	I don't know. Somehow I'm always edgy before an exam.
Fanny	Who isn't. You just need to remain cool it won't help if you get so worked up.

1.		I have butterflies in my stomach
		A	I have a stomachache.
		B	I have swallowed butterflies by mistake.
		C	I am nervous.
		D	I can't wait for my turn.
2.		the cream of the crop
		A	an intelligent student
		B	the teacher's favorite student
		C	a very good student
		D	very interested
3.		I'm always edgy
		A	I cannot relax
		B	I like to sit on the edge of a chair
		C	I am too eager to enter the exam room
		D	I must learn to like exams

Joey	I hope you can help me, sir. How do I brush up my English ?
Mr. Leong	For a start, you could borrow some interesting books from the library and develop a reading habit.
Joey	But I usually can't make head or tail of what I read.
Mr. Leong	You can always use a dictionary to help you with difficult words.
Joey	But it's such a waste of time and very often I give up reading a book.
Mr. Leong	You can't master a language without effort.

1.		brush up
		A	change
		B	speak
		C	improve
		D	increase
2.		make head or tail
		A	remember
		B	understand
		C	like
		D	use
3.		give up
		A	stop
		B	learn
		C	fall ill
		D	become angry

Mr. Chen	What excuse do you have this time ?
Wilkins	Besides my schoolwork I've been helping my father in his sundry shop. I've really been burning the candle at both ends. That's why I can't wake up in the morning.
Mr. Chen	I sympathize with your situation but you can't go onthis way.
Wilkins	I'll cut down on the time I spend helping my father. I promise I'll never be late again.

1.		burning the candle at both ends
		A	having problems
		B	making everyone happy
		C	working day and night
		D	sleeping very little
2.		go on
		A	repeat
		B	continue
		C	practice
		D	try
3.		cut down
		A	spend usefully
		B	forget
		C	stop
		D	reduce

（D） Cloze Test (121)

The blue whale is the biggest animal known to human beings.Even bigger than dinosaurs, blue whales are mammals (1)__________they are warm-blooded and they breathe through their lungs. Every five to ten minutes, blue whales emerge from the sea to blow out the stale air from their lungs (2)__________ an opening on the top of their heads. As the air is blown out, the water vapour that escapes is visible at a distance as a spray. The whales have to do this (3) __________ times to fully clear their lungs of the used air. Then they disappear (4)__________ the sea again with fresh air in their lungs.

For many years, the blue whale was hunted (5) __________ men called whalers. They wanted a special kind of bone (6)__________ in the whale's mouth that is light and bends easily without breaking. This whalebone was (7)__________to make hoops for circular skirts that were fashionable (8) ___________ women then. The fat, or the blubber of the whale was used to make cosmetics for women and whale meat was (9)__________ in the market for consumption.

Today, the blue whale is practically extinct. Other types of whales, such as the killer whale and the gray whale, are (10) ___________ special protection. The only species of whale that seems to have survived well is the dolphin.

(E) Structure and Usage (176 &37)

Joy was written on the face of the children of Rumah Hope during the ___1___ ceremony of their new home. The ___2___ children were running around, ___3___ merriment to the occasion. The three-storey building, ___4___ in about six months, will accommodate about 100 children. At the moment, those children who had been squatting at ___5___ premises, would move in as soon as possible. Rumah Hope was set up with the main aim of ___6___ a sanctuary for abused and ___7___ children. The need ___8___ the increase in the number of children at the home led the church ___9___ the ball ___10_ by making available a 0.3-hectare land adjacent to the good Hope church.

1.

(A)

open

6.

(A)

provide

(B)

opening

(B)

providing

(C)

opened

(C)

to provide

(D)

to open

(D)

provided

2.

(A)

excited

7.

(A)

abandoned

(B)

excite

(B)

abandon

(C)

exciting

(C)

abandoning

(D)

to excite

(D)

to abandon

3.

(A)

lend

8.

(A)

meet

(B)

lending

(B)

to meet

(C)

lent

(C)

meeting

(D)

to lend

(D)

met

4.

(A)

construct

9.

(A)

start

(B)

to construct

(B)

starting

(C)

constructing

(C)

to start

(D)

constructed

(D)

started

5.

(A)

rent

10.

(A)

roll

(B)

to rent

(B)

to roll

(C)

rented

(C)

rolled

(D)

renting

(D)

rolling

The secretary of the club approached them, asking them to take ___1___ places on the stage. The members of the proposition team had already started taking their places ___2___ the desks on the right. The timekeeper for the debate was already seated with the stopwatch and bell on the desk in front of him. Lisa Mary, the chairwoman for the debate, was out front, adjusting the ___3___.  Kenny, the president of the club, went over to help her. Larry and his friends ___4___ to their places hurriedly. Then the debate began. Larry listened carefully as each speaker ___5___ his or her opinion in various ways. Some were extremely vehement, pounding on their desks or waving their hands in the air. Some were humorous, acting out little comic sketches by themselves ___6___ the audience roared with laughter. However, Larry did not take much notice of this. he was busy trying to jot down the weak statements of his ___7___, but his hands were shaking so much that he ___8___ hardly write properly. Suddenly, he heard the chairwoman introducing him. It was his turn. at that very instant, he was no longer nervous. He knew that he could win ___9___ the hearts and minds of the judges and the audience. He stood up and began ___10___ eloquently.

1.

(A)

his

6.

(A)

because

(B)

him

(B)

while

(C)

they

(C)

after

(D)

their

(D)

but

2.

(A)

around

7.

(A)

opponents

(B)

behind

(B)

exponents

(C)

over

(C)

opposites

(D)

beside

(D)

rivals

3.

(A)

microphone

8.

(A)

could

(B)

microscope

(B)

would

(C)

megaphone

(C)

might

(D)

telephone

(D)

should

4.

(A)

have got

9.

(A)

in

(B)

will get

(B)

by

(C)

get

(C)

with

(D)

got

(D)

over

5.

(A)

provided

10.

(A)

speak

(B)

voted

(B)

to speak

(C)

voiced

(C)

had spoke

(D)

pointed

(D)

was speaking

The Pros and Cons of Social Networking for Teenagers

Social media has taken the world by storm. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and many other social networking websites have grown in popularity in recent years. It has become one of the best mediums for transfer of information and knowledge in the world. It is usually the younger generation that uses social media than any other demographic.

Students especially use the medium to stay in touch with their old friends and also to meet new ones. Like any other technological innovation social media has its own share of advantages and disadvantages. Schools are adopting technology for pedagogical purposes and introducing social mediainto the classrooms. This is a trend that has garnered a lot of support as well as apprehensions.

Social media has several advantages for students. Social media can enable students to easily contact each other with regards to school projects and assignments. It is also possible for them to work on group assignments from the comfort of their own homes. Students that use social media can also participate more in class. When social media is used in pedagogy, students who have difficulty in expressing their thoughts in their classrooms can get involved in the learning process. It will help build these children’s confidence level as well. Social media is also useful for students when doing homework. Any doubts can be cleared by posting a message through social media. Any questions that they may have can be asked on a message board and other students can also benefit from the feedback given by the teacher.

Teachers have many options to share useful links and this benefits the student. Students, teachers and parents can be on the same page with the help of social media. Sites like Face book help teachers to stay in touch with parents and let them know about the progress of their children.

Along with the advantages social media also has several disadvantages. Social media can be a distraction for some students. Students may be distracted from their school work and the teachers will have no option of knowing which student pays attention. There is always a possibility that the students will not use social media for educational purposes. They may use social media for their personal communication.

Students that use social media regularly may lose their ability to engage in face to face communication. Even if the world is turning to technology, students must know how to communicate in the real world. Social media websites are becoming notorious for cyber bullying. This has become an alarming trend. Students may write hurtful messages about other students and this could scar students for life. Yet another problem with social media is that it is impossible to know whether students will use the medium in a constructive manner. Students may post inappropriate content like pornography on social media. This will defeat the purpose of the medium altogether.

Undeniably, social media is a rather effective way for students to make friends and also to get their education. At the same time there are certain disadvantages as well. The true challenge lies in overcoming the disadvantages and ensuring that the advantages create the desired impact.

What are the benefits?

It’s not just teenagers who think social networking is cool. Researchers and survey groups have found social networking provides many benefits. For example:

• Social networking is an extension of teens’ real-world friendships. It helps them enrich and manage their social lives.
• Socializing online can give shy, socially awkward teens a comfortable way to communicate -- one that’s less intimidating than meeting face-to-face. This can boost their self-esteem and help them practice their social skills.
• Teens with unusual interests or hobbies find kindred spirits online, giving them a place to share information and enthusiasm.
• Kids who have disabilities or other challenges can communicate with other teens with similar problems. This lessens their sense of isolation and allows for mutual support.

What are the risks?

Studies and surveys reveal that social networking exposes teens to certain risks. For example:

• Online bullying and harassment by peers, also known as cyberbullying. This may be the biggest online danger to kids. It’s often an extension of bullying that takes place at school but can be just as damaging, if not more so. 
• Online predators. While being harassed or stalked online by adult predators is far less common than cyberbullying, any incident is one too many.
• Less face-to-face interaction with family and friends. Researchers are studying the effect of this trend on kids’ social development, but the long-term effects aren’t yet known.

Teach Your Teen to Socialize Safely Online

It isn’t easy to compete with your kid’s computer. She may consider Facebook her BFF, but it can’t give her love and guidance. You can. Try these tips to guide your teen’s life online:

• Set (and enforce) reasonable rules and restrictions on your teen’s use of online technology. For example, don’t allow her to use her laptop computer in her bedroom, out of your sight and supervision. Just knowing you might walk by at any time may motivate her to be more mindful of the house rules.
• Connect with your kid on Facebook or MySpace. If she’s not be crazy about this idea, point out that it could be a fun way to share photos, posts, and memories with cousins, grandparents, and other relatives.
• Be proactive. Educate your teen about the risks of social networking and how to avoid them. From knowing what to do if she’s bullied online, or using privacy settings for her online profile, teach your teen to protect herself online.
• Coach your teen to use caution and common sense online. Remind her to think twice before posting comments, photos, or videos – all of which add to (or detract from) her reputation.
• Balance her online social life with face-to-face interaction. Encourage her to spend “face time” with friends, and keep family relationships strong by spending quality time together – and by simply making yourself available to listen and talk. Don’t allow her to play with her smart phone at the dinner table; instead, draw her into the conversation and do your best to keep her engaged.